Disabled Parking Checks at St. Clair Square, Other Ill. Malls

CHICAGO (AP)- The Illinois Secretary of State’s office has started its yearly crackdown on drivers who misuse disability parking placards.

Secretary of State police are out at shopping malls statewide over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend looking for motorists who illegally park in parking spots reserved for the disabled. Last year the agency issued 31 citations over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Illinois Secretary of State disability liaison Bill Bogdan says the agency is asking drivers to respect the spaces and not abuse the program. There’s a $500 fine for illegally using a placard or disability license plates. Offenders can also have their licenses suspended. Fines for wrongly parking in a disability space can go up to $350.

Police are out in the Chicago area, Carbondale, Champaign, Fairview Heights, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield and other cities statewide.